Tool-holding box



Patented Mar. 26, 1889.

- .-5. d Y v Y fIlIIlIIlIIIIIIlIIIHIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIWIIMIIIIHHIHI G'. H. BARTLETT.

TOOL HOLDING- BOX.

Ill

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BARTLETT, OF SHORT HILLS, NEV JERSEY.

TOOL-HOLDING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,287', dated March 26, 1889.

Application iiled October 29, 1888. Serial No. 289,491. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BARTLETT, of Short Hills, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Holding Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Y

This invention relates to an improved box, tool holder or receptacle of that kind having a series of. separate compartments or cells, each of which is adapted to receive a single article-such as is commonly used for augerbits or similar tools.

A box embodying my invention is made of wood or similar substances, and is provided with a series of elongated cells formed in a block side by side and parallel with each other, with their open ends at one side or face of the block. Said block consists of three or more 'pieces or slabs of wood, the exterior pieces or slabs having recesses formed in their inner faces, and the intermediate pieces having recesses in both faces, which recesses, when the pieces or slabs are secured together, form the several compartments of the tool-holder. A recessed cover is connected with the top of the block thus made to hold the tools in place.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool holder or receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention. fFig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the connection between the cover and box, and showing the cover lifted away from the box. Fig. t is an end view of a box differing somewhat from that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the top of the box shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a box-cover differing slightly from the one shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows a cover hinged to the body of the box.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the main part or body of the receptacle, and B the cover thereof. The main part or body consists of a single block, which is formed by' three separate layers or slabs, A A2 A3, secured together side by side by means of glue or otherwise. The slabs A A3, forming the front and rear sui faces of the block, are provided at their inner faces with recesses a a a3 a3. The intermediate slab, A2, is provided at one side with recesses a2 d2, and at its opposite side with recesses a4 a4. The recesses a a? form one set or row of cells or compartments, while the recesses a3 a4 form another set or row of cells or compartments when the several layers are secured together. The grooves or recesses a a2 a3 at do not extend throughout the entire length of the slabs or layers, but are terminated short of the bottom ends of the layers, so that whenv the layers are placed and secured together the wood left at the ends of the recesses forms the bottom of the cells. By the employment of this construction no special means for closing the cells at their lower ends is required, and the labor and expense of applying a separate piece or pieces for this purpose are avoided.

' It will of course be understood that in constructin g the box the grooves may be formed in the slabs by running the same over revolving cutters, in a manner heretofore common and well known. In constructing the toolholder, therefore, the slabs or layers A A2 AS will first be cut the proper length, and the recesses a a2 a3 a4 will be formed therein by the employment of a revolving cutting-tool,

in the manner above stated. The slabs will v then be secured together to form a block, in the manner above described.

The cover B consists of a piece of wood, which is provided on its under or inner surface with grooves or recesses. b b', each of which extends over a row of cells or compartments in the block A, said grooves or recesses therefor being located at right angles to the central lines of the cells and parallel with the sides of the slabs forming the block.

In constructing a cover provided with recesses of the character described a long strip or board will iirst be grooved longitudinally with grooves the proper size and shape to forni the recesses l) l1', and the said board or strip will then be cut into pieces, each of which is of length to form a cover. As shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the grooves b b of the cover are left open, this construction not usually being of special disadvantage in toolboxes. If desired, however, for appearance IOO or to protect the tools from access of air or dampness, illing-pieces h2 U3 may be inserted and secured in the ends of the grooves, as shown in Fig. (i. In Fig. 5, wherein a cover is shown which is made in aI similar manner, end pieces, b3 Z13, are shown as secured to the ends of the cover for closing the ends of said grooves, this construction being especially desirable in the form ot cover shown in that figure, for the reason that the grooves ot the cover are made exceptionally deep to receive the ends ot the tools having long shanks or tangs, and the presence of such deep grooves makes it desirable that the parts of the wood between the grooves should be braced or supported to prevent the cover becoming too easily broken.

A cover enrbracing the features ot' construction above described may be connected with the body ot the receptacle or block A by hinges (c Ct, as shown in Fig. 7) or in any other suitable manner.

I have herein shown a novel means of connecting a cover with a box-body having advantages in point of simplicity and economy of construction. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, (I is a cylindric metal rod or piece of stiff wire secured in the cover l-, and adapted to engage and slide vertically in a vertical recess, c, formed in the block A. The said rod is adapted to slide freely endwise and to ro tate in the recess c, so that by drawing the cover upwardly to free it from the ends ot' the tools in the block, and by then swinging the cover around by the turning of the rod in said recess, the ends of the tools will be exposed, and the said tools may be easily taken from the cells. C is a short pin desirably secured in the under surface of the cover, adapted to engage an opposite hole, c', in the block A, so as to hold the cover from turning when the said cover is in contact with the top of the block. A hook, D, on the block, adapted to engage a stud or projection, d, on the cover, may be conveniently used for holding the cover in contact with the block in handling or transporting the receptacle. The recess rf may be conveniently formed in the block A by means of two opposite semicircnlar grooves, c2 c3, formed in the adjacent faces of the layers or slabs A2A3, said grooves c2 ci; being formed by the use of a suitable cutting-tool at the same time that the recesses d c?, constituting the cells, are formed in the said slabs. The recess c for the pin C maybe formed between the layers or slabs in a similar manner.

In Fig. i I have shown a connection between the cover and block A, embracing a rod, E, attached to the cover, which rod is held in eyes or staples c c, attached to the side ofthe block, in which eyes or staples the rod is adapted to slide and turn to permit the removal of the cover from the block. rlhe said rod E is shown as attached to the coverB by havin g its end bent at right angles and driven into the cover, a staple, c', serving to hold the rod perpendicular'to the cover. ',lhe rod may, however, be otherwise attachedfto the said cover.

The box shown in Figs. el and 5 is also provided with a short pin, E', adapted to engage a staple, e2, on one ot the sides oi' the block, for the purpose of holding the cover from moving on the block when the box is closed, in the saine manner as before described. The box shown in Fig. -l is also provided with a hook, D, and stud (l, for the purpose above stated.

It will ol' course be understood that as .tar as the connection between the cover and block, consisting oi' a rod attached to the cover and having sliding engagement with a recess in the block, is concerned, the block and cover may be made in the particular manner above described or otherwise-as, for instance, the block A maybe made ot one piece, as shown in Figs. i and 5. It is entirely obvious, furthermore, that the employment ot the short pin C or E is not essential as iar as the operation of the cylindric rod attached to the cover and engaging a recess within the block is concerned, inasmuch as the hook I) or other :fastening device maybe relied upon to hold the cover from shifting or turning on the block. Such pin employed in connection with a rod having both sliding and rotating engagement with the receptacle is, however, oi especial advantage as aitordin g a secure and convenient means ot connecting the parts, and is of especial utility in preventing the cover from being shifted from its place until. lifted clear ot the tools in the receptacle, and is therefore herein claimed as part of my invention.

A tool-holding box made generally in the manner above set forth may be provided with more than two rows oi cells or compartments, and in ease it has more than two rows oi' cells will have two or more internal layers instead of a single intermediate layer, such as is shown in the drawings. or compartments .for the bits or tools may be of any cross-sectional shape necessary or de sirable, according to the purpose tor Vwhich the holder is to be used.

It has been proposed heretofore to make a tool-receptacle by boring a series of holes side by side in a block of wood to form a series of separate cells. A construction ot' this kind is not, however, adapted for gen eral use, especially in boxes tor long tools, for the reason that the boring of a series oi holes side by side is a slow and expensive operation, inasmuch as the holes can seldom be bored straight and parallel with each other, owing to the liability of lateral deflection of the boring-tool byinequalities in the grain of the wood. By making the block of separate layers or slabs grooved partially through their length I construct the block in a simple, cheap, and expeditious manner,while the cover being provided with grooves in the manner described, said grooves being arranged oppo- The cells IOO IIO

site the row of cells, makes a construction in the cover of superior character and great economy.

I claim as my inventionl. As a novel article, a tool holder or receptacle consisting of two exterior slabs or layers provided With grooves upon their inner faces which terminate short of the lower ends of the said slabs or layers, and one or more intermediate layers provided with similar grooves upon both faces, said layers being secured together With the grooves therein opposite each other to form a series of compart-` ments or cells, and a cover connected With the upper end thereof, said cover being recessed in its inner face to receive the ends of the tools which project from the compartments or cells, substantially as described.

2. As a novel article, a tool holder or receptacle consisting of two exterior slabs or layers grooved upon their inner faces, and one or more intermediate layers grooved upon both faces, said layers being secured together with the grooves therein opposite each other to form a series of straight rows of compartments or cells, and a cover provided on its inner face with a plurality of grooves arranged severally over the rows of compartments or cells, and forming recesses to receive the ends of the tools which project from said compartments or cells, substantially as described.

3. A too`l holder or receptacle consisting of a Wooden block provided with a plurality of cells or compartments, combined With a recessed cover and a cylindric rod attached to the cover and fitting and sliding within a guide-recess formed in the said block, substantially as described.

4. A tool holder or receptacle provided with a plurality of compartments or cells, combined p with a recessed cover, a cylindric rod rigidly attached to the cover and having sliding and rotating connection With the receptacle, and a second shorter rod secured in said cover and having sliding connection With the receptacle, substantially as described.

5. A tool holder or receptacle comprising a plurality of slabs or layers grooved on their adjacent faces to form a series of cells or compartments to receive the tools, a cover, and a cylindric rod rigidly attached to the cover, said slabs or layers being provided also with grooves upon their adjacent faces, which form a guiderecess to receive said rod, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. BARTLETT. Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLE,

F. W. JENKINS. 

